Natalie Wilkson, age 50, of Lutz, Florida, passed away on Friday, January 11th, 2019, at Lifepath Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of James Wilkson of Tampa, Florida.
Natalie was born in Atlanta on December 16, 1968 and grew up in Georgia, Japan, and Tampa Bay. Her parents were Dr. Richard D. Cohen (Tifton, Ga) and Anna Rigdon (Tifton, Ga). Aside from her husband, James, Natalie leaves her son, Parker Wilkson of Tampa, FL, and daughter, Alyssa Eads of Tampa, FL. She is also survived by Richard (Dad) and Terri Cohen (Parent) of Tampa, FL, Anna McKenzie (Mom) of Gulfport, FL, Angela Norbom (Sister) of Tampa, FL, her beloved niece and nephew, Juliet and Benjamin, grandparents, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.
To know Natalie is to love Natalie! She lit up a room with her beautiful, warm smile and her spirited laughter. She was a gentle soul who would brighten everyone’s day, and had an innate ability to make conversations about the other person; in other words, she was a compassionate listener. We all knew she liked pink and things that sparkled, yet she was strong and full of fire when it mattered most. She was fiercely protective of her family and friends and was happiest when surrounded by love. Natalie shunned drama, creating paths for all to find harmony. Those of us who knew Natalie will forever be touched by this angel who walked among us.
Natalie trained to become an Esthetician 20 years ago and started her skin care journey in 2001 working alongside Emma Abrahams at London Hair in the Don Cesar hotel in St. Pete, Florida. By 2005, she owned her own highly successful spa, Mystic Sky Day Spa, located at Grand Targhee Ski Resort in Alta, Wyoming. Her tenacious commitment to client service led to 400% growth in its first 2 years, and it became the resort’s shining amenity. This quaint spa rivaled Jackson Hole’s bigger spas such as the Snake River Lodge and The Ritz Carlton in both service and client experience due to her ability to build a client experience that felt both personal and warm. Eventually, even though very successful, Natalie missed her extended family and decided it was time for her immediate family to relocate to Florida. Those of us who knew Natalie will tell you that once she decided something – well, that’s what was going to happen! Upon returning to the Tampa Bay area, she briefly worked as a Chanel Make Up advisor. She soon returned to the spa business, working first at Spa Moritz then finishing her spa days at Bliss Day Spa in Wesley Chapel.
Natalie loved all of her clients and friends, but what she enjoyed the most was spending time at home with her beloved husband, children, and of course, Peppie, her possessive Pomeranian. As a mother, she was proud and loving, radiant and sweet. She loved to decorate for special days, and had become quite adept at creating “tablescapes” and festive dinners for intimate family gatherings. As outgoing as she was, she was mostly an intimate host, preferring small gatherings over large settings. Natalie would really open up and share her opinions in these small settings, and we will miss these moments immensely.
At her father’s request, the funeral and burial will be a private event for immediate family at Trinity Memorial Gardens. The public visitation is on 1/13/19 at Blount & Curry funeral home in Carrollwood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. (www.cancer.org)
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